Fentanyl Responsible for an Increased Number of Deaths

Posted By
The Gilbert Law Group

Fentanyl is a potent opioid pain medication. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, but some fentanyl analogs may be as much as 10,000 times more potent than morphine. The drug is used for many purposes, such as for anesthesia and to help people manage chronic pain.

According to a federal report, fentanyl was involved in more than half of the recent opioid overdose deaths in 10 states, including Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, New Mexico, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island. The report was released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to show how the drug is affecting the nation’s current opioid use epidemic.

In 2016, around 64,000 U.S. drug overdose deaths involve opioids, which include heroin and prescription painkillers, such as Vicodin and Percocet. About 56% of opioid deaths in the 10 states studied involved fentanyl use.

Many people who are suffering through the final stages of cancer may be prescribed fentanyl to help cope with their chronic pain. However, opioid use has quadrupled since 1999, a period in which the number of opioid prescriptions quadrupled.

Likewise, some medicines can interact with fentanyl and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome, which could result in high body temperature, increased reflexes, agitation, sweating, tremors, diarrhea, dilated pupils, seizures, and extensive muscle breakdown.

If you think you or a loved one have been harmed by fentanyl, talk to one of our skilled Denver defective drugs attorneys. People trust their doctors are giving them the right prescriptions in the correct amount, but some physicians can negligently prescribe the wrong thing or fail to check a patient’s chart. Likewise, manufacturers have made many errors over the years in the production of their pharmaceutical drugs. Accidents involving prescription drugs are extremely common and can cause serious injuries or even wrongful death. Let us help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The Gilbert Law Group® has years of experience to offer your case. Let us see what we can do for you.

Contact us at (888) 711-5947 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation with us today.